1 of 10
I Dream of Weenie
2 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 1
The problem.3 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 1
The cause.4 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 2
I Dream of Weenie lunch break.5 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 3
The arch.6 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 3
Busch stadium, Mr. Wainwright's "other home"7 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 4
Bo Diddley signature at the Fox.8 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 4
Liberace's signature at the Fox9 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 4
Red Skelton drawing at the Fox.10 of 10
OTRWJ - Day 4
Stained glass ceiling in ladies' room at the Fox.DAY 2 - "I Dream of Weenie"
Typically, when driving interstates, Larry and I seek out Ruby Tuesdays for lunch. Really. Their salad bar is well-stocked and clean. It is fresh, healthy and fast. But for this trip, except for coffees from Starbucks or McDonald's, we are trying to eat local and independent and avoid the chains. Our find today in East Nashville, TN was a funky little curbside spot that has been featured on Cooking Channel's "Eat Street."
I DREAM OF WEENIE is not Brunswick's famous Willie's Weenie Wagon...but still had personality and great hot dogs. The tiny stand is built in to the middle of an old yellow VW bus. They specialize in unique toppings. Today's special was Pizza Weenie: a dog topped with pepperoni, tomato sauce and melted cheese.
We opted for the chili cheese and the Flamin' Frank!!! Yum!
DAY 3 - "Across the Mighty Mississip"
Crossing the Mighty Mississippi and saying "hi" to Adam W (at Busch Stadium).
We are now officially in the West!
DAY 4 - The "Fabulous Fox"
Larry & I enjoyed a brief visit with my cousin and her family in St.Louis. Since we'd seen the Anheuser-Busch brewery and the Arch on previous trips, this time while the guys played golf my cousin and I toured the "Fabulous Fox," one of William Fox's exotic movie palaces.
As we toured the theater, I had no idea the surprise that awaited us backstage. This is a St. Louis "must see."
Built in 1929, the Fox was the second largest movie theater in the U. S. behind New York's Roxy (predecessor to Radio City Music Hall). Its exotic decor (a Byzantine interpretation of a Siam temple), has details you don't see today. Engineering innovations included a central vac system, air conditioning (fans blowing cool air from a cooled basement pool through pipes and used until 2011!) and a sound system to accommodate the newfangled "talkies," which Mr. Fox feared might be a fad.
I loved the stained glass ceiling in the ladies room. Considered scandalous at the time (due to her bare shoulders, cigarette, exposed knees and décolletage), it was promptly painted over but exposed in a later restoration.
But the surprise was backstage. What first looked like graffiti, the stairwells, hallways and dressing rooms were COVERED with thousands of murals, sketches and autographs by legendary actors, musicians and comedians who've performed at the Fox: Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Yul Brynner, the Allman Brothers Band, Liberace, Red Skelton, Michael Jackson, Bo Diddley....
My cousin and I were so mesmerized hunting down names the guide had to keep pushing us to keep up with the group.
The "Fabulous Fox" is a fabulous way to experience St. Louis- Gateway to the West.
Of course, it had been two days since our tire excitement. So, to keep things interesting, after a long, relaxing and wine filled lunch with my cousin, we each checked our phones to find a ton of messages from the golfing guys. Seems my Larry had been taken off the golf course directly to a local orthopedic surgeon due to debilitating hip pain.
Note: the intermittent pain had been getting considerably worse over the past week. Visions of hiking, horseback riding and thousands of highway miles were looking a little cloudy.
Yes, I'd suggested seeing a doctor that very morning because I thought he might have severe bursitis. But I wasn't persuasive.
Happily, after one hour at the doctor, a diagnosis of bursitis ( echo echo), and a cortisone shot, Larry walked out a new man.
Our deepest gratitude to my more persuasive cousin's husband and to the family for being good friends with an excellent orthopedic doctor who was kind enough to squeeze Larry in. They saved our trip.
